Type aligning machine



Aug. 12, 1969 s. KHALIL TYPE ALIGNING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Feb. 7. 1966 mvsuron: SEYED KHALIL ATTORNEY Aug. 12, 1969 s. KHALIL TYPE ALIGNING MACHINE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Feb. 7, 1966 nvvgrvrom SEYED KHALIL ATTORNEY.

United States Patent 3,460,894 TYPE ALIGNING MACHINE Seyed Khalil, Hotel Embassy, Broadway and 70th St., New York, N.Y. 10023 Filed Feb. 7, 1966, Ser. No. 525,726 Int. Cl. G01b 9/08 US. Cl. 356-165 9 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A device attachable to a typewriter for enabling the rapid alignment of the individual typebars thereof. The individually typed characters or symbols on the typewriter platen are projected onto a screen and'coinpared with precisely aligned characters or symbols on the screen. The typebars of the characters not falling into alignment with corresponding characters on the screen are then manually repositioned to bring the projected characters into alignment.

The present invention relates to a type aligning machine including a programmed screen and a projection device rernovably connected to a typewriter, more particularly to a typewriter that is provided with a series of symbols bearing typebars, a carriage, a platen and a feed mechanism successively type on a material around said platen the impression of symbols and project them one after another onto said programmed screen to conspicuously determine their relative alignment with respect to said programmed screen.

The present system and machine are indeed so simple and accurate that a typewriter mechanic can align accurately all symbols of typewriters of all languages and styles of characters including uniform spacing characters, variable spacing characters, joined characters such as script characters, Arabic characters and Persian characters.

Generally speaking in the present invention each character and other symbol is aligned by comparing its impression to an aligned duplicate of itself (but not by comparing the alignment of a impression of a symbol with its adjacent impressions as is done in prior art).

In the prior art (unlike the present invention) a symbol is supposedly aligned relative to its immediate adjacent symbols according to personal judgment of the typewriter mechanic based upon his visual observation. As there is no positive way of determining the proper alignment of the impressions produced by the other such types and bars, which may also be out of alignment, the supposed correction to the first typebar may be entirely unnecessary and furthermore in the wrong direction.

The typewriter may be substantially of a conventional design such as, for example, those illustrated in 14 US. patents issued to the present inventor. Only a few parts of a typewriter which are absolutely necessary for understanding the invention are diagrammatically shown in the accompanying drawings.

The type aligning machine includes a frame, a lantern projection device termed periscope and a programmed screen for checking alignment of the impressions of the symbols typed by said typewriter.

The typewriter types the impression of its own symbols one at a time, the periscope projects enlarged impressions of said symbols on said screen for checking their alignment with respect to said programmed screen.

PROGRAMMED SCREEN The programmed screen is mounted on a cylindrical drum rotatably positioned at the rear center of said type 3,460,894 Patented Aug. 12, 1969 ice aligning machine. Associated therewith is a feed pinion, a spring to prevent the backlash of said pinion when it is in operating contact with a feed rack. The checking screen which may be interchangeable is vertically and circularly adjustable as will be pointed out.

The programmed or checking screen together with its cylindrical drum has a limited range of rotation of one revolution and has an initial position of rotation. It is connected to the platen (the carriage) of the typewriter so that its initial position corresponds to the initial typing position of the platen. It rotates as the carriage, including is platen, advances so that it has a synchronized movement with that of the carriage.

Around said checking screen in a single circular row are the entire 42 or more lower case symbols of the typebars, each of which is termed an Aligned Likeness Sample. By Aligned Likeness Sample is meant an exact copy of a symbol as it would have been made at the typing position of the platen at which it was intended to be by the orginal design of the typewriter. The Aligned Likeness Samples are drawn in the same order and sequence as their respective symbols are supported by their typebars from the first left side successively to the last right side of the typewriter.

The aligned likeness sample of the lower case character of the first left hand typebar q is marked on said circular row at the initial starting position of said screen, the remaining aligned likeness samples-41 or more follows said first aligned likeness sample along said circular row in the order stated.

The aligned likeness sample of all symbolsare drawn in such a position that if their horizontal typing centers are extended to meet each other they (horizontal typing cener) will form a uniform circular line which represent the horizontal typing center of the platen.

To facilitate the application and function of the periscope an additional space unit is provided between each aligned likeness sample and its following aligned likeness sample to further separate them. (Further explanation of the reasons for the space between adjacent aligned likeness samples are given in the course of the following paragraphs.)

For better visibility the aligned likeness samples together with the space therebetween are enlarged for example twice.

To more readily distinguish between the aligned likeness samples and those of the projected impression of their respective symbols the colors of the aligned likeness samples may be different than that of the projected impressions.

To align characters of different styles, size and spaces between adjacent symbols the screen is replaced by one bearing the aligned likeness sample of the particular symbols which is to be aligned. The spacing of such symbols on the replaced screen must correspond to the feed movement of the carriage. The replacing of a screen with another is simple as the screens are interchangeable. The changing of one screen to another having any other size and/or style does not necessitate a feed of dilferent space unit as the feed pinion of the cylindrical drum is driven by the same feed pinion that drives the carriage.

The aligning of the symbols is one thing, the alignment of various parts of the type aligning machine is another; the accuracy of the alignment of said parts should be assured prior to checking the alignment of the symbols. There is one way to do so.

At a distance above the aligned likeness sample is marked a heavy circle for the purpose of constant observation of said part which will be described in connection with the description of the periscope that follows.

PERISCOPE Another important part of the type aligning machine is a projection lantern comprising two angularly joined tubular elements forming a body similar to a periscope hence it is termed a periscope.

The open end of one of said tubular element faces an aligned likeness sample on said screen, while the open end of the other tubular element faces the platen. A source of illuminating light is arranged to illuminate a desired section of the platen and a mirror within the junction of said tubular elements directs the illuminated section of the platen through an objective lens onto the screen.

A straight line is marked on said mirror. This straight line is projected on said heavy circle on the screen and they will perfectly coincide when said periscope is in alignment with said screen.

TYPING FOR CHECKING ALIGNMENT In the checking operation a round of paper is secured over the platen while the rollers under as well as those over the platen are shifted out from the platen.

To type all symbols of a typewriter for checking their alignment, the platen (the carriage) is set to its initial typing position and the lower case symbol of the first left typebarfor example qis operated. The typing of said symbol enables both the platen and the checking screen to respectively and automatically advance one space unit. Then the space bar is depressed one time to advance both the platen and the screen an additional space unit. This additional space unit is to further separate the typed symbol from the next symbol which will be typed to prevent more than one symbol to pass through the periscopic projection at a time as in many commercial typewriters there is not any less than ten symbols to the horizontal inch.

After typing said symbol and providing additional space-unit the platen is rotated to bring the typed impression into the pick-up direction of said periscope. This may be done, for example by rotating the platen by the line spacing lever (not shown) 8 teeth if the total line spacing ratchet teeth are 32.

The periscope picks up the impression of the symbol and projects it onto its aligned likeness sample where the alignment of said impression with said aligned likeness sample is checked.

If and when the projected impression fully coincides with its aligned likeness sample the symbol is properly and fully aligned.

If the alignment between the impression of a symbol with its aligned likeness sample do not coincide, the respective typebar is bent, twisted, or otherwise operated upon and the symbol is again typed and projected for rechecking. Each time that such correction is required the carriage is back spaced two letter space units and the symbol of the newly corrected typebar is typed and as before the platen is rotated 8 line spacing to automatically project it on its aligned likeness sample and re-examined. (Note the position of the periscope including the lenses and the inclined mirror should not be modified for aligning a symbol with its aligned likeness sample.)

If and when the newly adjusted symbol is in aligned condition with its aligned likeness sample then the symbol of the next typebar may be checked.

The symbol of the next typebar, that is the second typebar from the left is typed causing both the platen and the screen to advance a unit of space respectively; again the space bar is depressed enabling both the platen and the screen to advance an additional space unit; the platen is again rotated 8 teeth to bring said second symbol into the pick-up direction of the periscope which projects the impression of said second symbol over its aligned likeness sample for checking their alignment.

Then the third typebar is checked. This process is continued until all the symbols of the typebars are checked and corrected if and when any correction is needed.

If it is desired to check and align one or more symbols independently rather than in their normal sequence as set forth in preceding paragraphs the carriage is moved back and forth while looking through a window on the screen until the aligned likeness sample of said symbol appear behind the type guide. The back spacing key (not shown) is then depressed bringing back the carriage and the screen one unit and whereupon the symbol is typed and checked as described in connection with the general checking.

Following the checking and aligning operation, the typed paper is removed from the platen and held for a record and the type aligning machine is removed from the typewriter whereupon the typewriter may be used in the conventional manner.

A more complete understanding of the invention will follow from a detailed description of the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a vertical sectional view of the invention partly in section.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view taken substantially on line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIGURE 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on line 33 of FIG. 2, and

FIGURE 4 is a detail view showing a horizontal reference line on the periscope mirror.

Referring to the accompanying drawings the double headed arrows A and T in FIGS. 1 and 2 indicate respectively the type aligning machine and the typewriter. The section of the drawing indicated by arrow head A being the type aligning machine while the section shown by arrow head T indicates the typewriter.

The purpose for differentiating the type aligning machines from the typewriter by the double headed arrows A and T will be apparent.

The type aligning machine A being a novel invention is shown substantially in comprehensive detail, but the typewriter T being substantially similar to a conventional typewriter does not need to be shown. Reference being made to fourteen (14) US. patents for various conventional typewriters that are issued to the present inventor.

However, just a few parts of a typewriter are shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 1 and 2. It is believed that they sufiiciently show the cooperative function of the typewriter with the type aligning machine.

CONNECTING TYPE ALIGNING MACHINE TO TYPEWRITER No attempt has been made to hold the type aligning machine and the typewriter respectively in their relative positions to prevent them from vibrating. This course is taken because one of the best means for holding them together would be a table which cannot be incorporated in this application. For example, such table will preferably have a high and a low step. The typewriter may be secured on the lower step and the type aligning machine on the higher step.

THE CARRIAGE The carriage 21 is slidably mounted on the frame member 26. The carriage has the extended arms 23 rotatably supporting the platen 22. A round of paper 25 is secured over the platen 22.

The paper pressure roller 29 below the platen 22 is shown disengaged from said platen and may be operated by the same mechanism which is used in conventional typewriters for insertion of paper. This roller or rollers has no function in the present invention.

The typebar 27 carrying an upper case and a lower case character 28 is pivotably mounted in the basket (or segment) 31.

Normally, the lower case character will type as shown in FIG. 1. To type the upper case character a shift key (not shown) is depressed causing the basket 31 and typebars to shift down to the extent that the upper case character moves down to the position shown by the lower case character in said FIG. 1.

THE TYPE ALIGNING MACHINE The base plate 32 to which a number of elements are secured is adapted to be positioned to the rear of the typewriter.

The right hand ends of the arms 33 as shown in FIG. 2 are secured to the top of the slidable member 34. The left hand end of said arms 33 are extended forwardly to securely engage the respective ends of the carriage to move in a to-and-fro direction therewith. Member 34 is arranged for to-and-fro movement in a direction parallel to the carriage movement. Member 34 is supported for such movement in the upper ends of stationary frame 36 secured to the base plate 32 through an intermediate mounting block 37. The Sliding member 34 also has secured thereto and extending to the right as shown in FIGURE 2 a feed rack 38.

The teeth 39 of the feed rack 38 engage a helical feed gear. 41. As will be noted for purposes hereinafter apparent, the width of the gear 41 is considerably greater than the depth of the rack teeth 39. The gear 41 is secured to a vertical shaft 42 for rotation therewith. The shaft 42 is mounted at its upper and lower ends in bearings 43 and 44 respectively. The bearing 44 is secured to the base plate 32 while the bearing 43 is formed in a top member 46 secured to the upper end on a curved upright frame member 47.

Also secured on the shaft 42 and directly above the gear 41 is a cylindrical member 48. Member 48 is some what elongated for purposes hereinafter apparent and is adapted to rotate with the gear 41. Numeral 45 is an eye or window through the wall 50a through which the screen 49 and the aligned likeness sample can readily be viewed.

A removable screen 49 tightly surrounds the cylindrical member 48 and is adapted for axial movement with respect to the cylindrical member 48. The screen 49 is closed at its upper end and depending from the upper end are a pair of diametrically opposed pins 51. The pins 51 are in axial alignment with the shaft 42 and extend into close-fitting openings 52 in the cylindrical member 48. Thus the screen 49 is coupled to the cylindrical member 48 but is movable in an axial direction with respect thereto. Numeral 50 indicates a space enclosed by walls 50a which is adapted to prevent outside light from falling on the screen to enable the aligned likeness samples, and the projected impression of the symbols to be more vividly observed.

Attached by means of pins 53 to the upper surface of the screen 49 is a collar 54 about which is coiled a spring 56. One end of the spring 56 as shown in FIG. 3 is anchored in the collar 54 while the other end of the spring is attached to the frame member 47 by means of an anchor pin 57. The spring 56 is tensioned and tends to rotate the collar 54, the screen 49, the cylindrical member 48 and the gear 41 in a counter clockwise direction as viewed from the top and thus takes up any lost motion between said elements and the carriage 21 of the typewriter.

THE PERlSCOPE-LIKE PROJECTION The periscope-like projection P is located between the type aligning machine and the typewriter and is adapted to project impressions of symbols on the paper 25 around platen 22 onto the screen 49. The periscope P is arranged to project the impression of one symbol at a time. The periscope includes a pair of light sources 61 adapted to project a light beam down onto the top section of the typewriter platen 22. The light beams are adapted to preferably illuminate an area of said section of the platen somewhat greater than the area of one typebar symbol at a time.

Positioned directly above the illuminated area of the platen is a rectangular cross-section casing 62 open at its lower end to encase a section of the upper part of the platen and closed at its upper end. Contained within I the casing 62 is a small flat mirror 63 pivotally mounted on horizontal pins 60. The mirror is adjustable on the pins 60 and is mounted at approximately an angle of 45.

On the reflecting face of the mirror 63 is marked a horizontal locating line 70 as shown in FIG. 4. The use of the locating line 70 will be described in the following paragraphs.

To the right of the mirror 63 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 is a tube 64. The tube 64 contains a lens system (not shown) of conventional design which is adapted in conjunction with the mirror 63 to pick up an impression of a symbol on the platen and project it onto the screen 49. The periscope-like projection P including the lens system within the tube 64, the mirror 63 and the casing 62 are supported from a bracket 66 to and extending upwardly from the base 32.

THE SCREEN Arranged around the periphery of the screen 49 in a circumferential row and in a predetermined sequence are marked what is termed Aligned Likeness Samples of the symbols of typebar and are preferably several times larger than corresponding symbols produced on a type- Writer platen by the typebars. The periscope including the lens system is arranged to magnify the projected image of the symbols picked up on the typewriter platen to a size corresponding to respective aligned likeness samples on the screen 49.

Prior to checking the alignment of a symbol on the platen with its aligned likeness sample on the screen 49 the typing center of the platen must be properly aligned with a typing center on the screen 49. Furthermore, the initial position of the screen must correspond with the initial typing position of the platen. To this end the screen 49 is both axially and rotatively adjustable with respect to the teeth 39 of the rack 38. This adjustment is effected by manually rotating the screen 49 to bring a typing center thereon into vertical alignment with the center of the lens system within the tube 64. Such rotation of the screen 49 through the helical gear 41 will cause the circumferential typing center of the aligned likeness samples to move up or down as the case may be. A suitable length sleeve 67 on the shaft 42 holds the gear 41 and cylindrical member 48 in the desired position. Thereupon the screen 49 is adjusted vertically to bring the circumferential typing center of the aligned likeness samples into the desired position. A sleeve 68 of suitable length on the shaft 42 between the upper end of the cylindrical member 48 and the inner end surface of the screen 49 keeps the latter in its adjusted position.

Thus by means of adjustability of the screen 49 in both vertical and rotative positions the typing center of an aligned likeness sample may be correctly positioned with respect to a typing center on the typewriter platen. Accordingly, a symbol correctly positioned with respect to the typing center on the platen will be projected and aligned with its likeness sample on the screen 49. Any divergence of the projected symbol from that of its likeness sample indicates misalignment of the symbol and in a manner hereinbefore pointed out its position can be corrected by suitable operation on the respective typebar. Thus with the present invention all symbols on the typebars can be correctly aligned independently of all other symbols of the typewriter.

At a distance away from the aligned likeness sample on said screen a circumferential line 71 is drawn and termed locating line. Whenever the periscopic source of light causes the locating line 70 of the mirror 63 to be projected on the locating line 71 of the screen the periscope and screen are properly aligned. However, if the locating lines 70 and 71 do not coincide the mirror should be tilted until the two locating lines coincide. Then the symbols are typed and projected on the screen for checking their alignments as described in the preceding paragraphs.

While the invention has been shown and described in an illustrative embodiment thereof, it will be obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and it is desired therefore that only such limitations be placed thereon as are set forth in the appended claims.

What I claim:

1. A type aligning machine for aligning the type of a typewriter, said machine including a screen having a circular row of aligned pre-printed likeness samples thereon, and being removably connected to a typewriter, said typewriter having a series of symbol bearing typebars, a to-and-fro movable carriage, a platen for supporting a record sheet, and a feed mechanism whereby spaced apart imprints of said typebar symbols are recorded on said record sheet, means including a projection device to project images of said imprints onto said screen in superimposed relationship with said pre-printed likeness samples and means including said projected images and said corresponding pre-printed likeness samples on said screen to determine the relative alignment of said imprints.

2. A type aligning machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said screen is removably mounted on a shaft supported cylindrical drum, a feed pinion on said shaft, a feed rack for said pinion and a backlash preventing spring for said pinion, said rack being connected to said carriage and operating said feed pinion in a synchronized relation with the movement of said carriage.

3. A type aligning machine as set forth in claim 2 wherein said screen is adjustable vertically and circularly relative to the axis of said cylindrical drum.

4. A type aligning machine as set forth in claim 3 wherein said screen has in a single circular row at least one aligned likeness sample of the impression of each symbol of one case of all typebars of said typewriter.

A type aligning machine as set forth in claim 4 wherein the aligned likeness samples are drawn on said screen in a single circular line in a predetermined order and sequence with respect to a corresponding order and sequence of the typebars that support their respective symbols.

6. A type aligning machine as set forth in claim 5 wherein the horizontal typing centers of said alinged likeness samples are drawn along a uniform circular line common to all of them and corresponding to the horizontal typing center of the platen.

7. A type aligning machine as set forth in claim 6 wherein the space units between the successively aligned likeness samples along said circular line correspond with the respective feed movement of said platen in conjunction with the impression of said symbols thereon.

8. A type aligning machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein said projection device comprises two angularly joined tubular elements forming a periscope-like unit, the open end of one of said tubular elements facing the platen while the open end of the second tubular element faces said screen, a circumferential locating line on said screen, a mirror angularly mounted within said periscopelike unit, a horizontal locating line on said mirror, an objective lens located between said mirror and said screen and a source of light for said periscope and means including said locating lines for enabling the alignment of the typing centers of said likeness samples with projected images of said typebar symbols.

9. A type aligning machine as set forth in claim 8 wherein said circular locating line is marked on said screen at a distance from the row of the aligned likeness samples, said line being located so that when the projected locating horizontal line of said mirror coincides with the circular line on the screen the periscope and screen are in alignment.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,789,009 1/1931 Luce. 2,341,646 2/1944 Newman. 2,500,051 3/ 1950 Wolff. 2,558,078 6/1951 Fuller.

NORTON ANSHER, Primary Examiner RICHARD M. SHEER, Assistant Examiner U.S. Cl. X.R. 35366 

